Substance profile
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminum Chloride is a white when pure; ordinarily gray or yellow to greenish with a strong odor of hydrogen chloride.
01 · Identification
What Aluminum Chloride is
Aluminum Chloride is a white when pure; ordinarily gray or yellow to greenish with a strong odor of hydrogen chloride. Its molecular formula is AlCl3 and its molecular weight is 133.34 g/mol. It boils at 110 °C, melts at 193 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as corrosives.
Other names for Aluminum Chloride
- aluminium chloride, anhydrous
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H314 | Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. |
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Aluminum Chloride properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 110 °C (230 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO |
| 180 °C (356 °F) | at 760 mmHg | DOE PAC | |
| 182.7 °C (360.9 °F) | sublimes, at 752 mmHg, Sublimation temperature | HSDB | |
| Melting point | 192.6 °C (378.7 °F) | HSDB | |
| 193.89 °C (381 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| -34.44 °C (-30 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 2.48 g/cm³ | HSDB | |
| 1.28 g/cm³ | CAMEO | ||
| 2.44 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | CAMEO | |
| Solubility | Soluble in benzene, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform. | HSDB | |
| Freely soluble in many organic solvents, such as benzophenone, nitrobenzene. | HSDB | ||
| Solubility in water: reaction | ICSC | ||
| Vapor pressure | 1 mmHg | at 100 °C | HSDB |
| Autoignition temperature | Not flammable (USCG, 1999) | CAMEO | |
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | Combines with water with explosive violence and liberation of much heat. | HSDB | |
| Not combustible, but heating may produce irritants & toxic gases. Reacts violently with water producing hydrochloric acid & heat. | HSDB | ||
| Old containers can explode on opening | HSDB | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 346.85 °C (656.3 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Source notes
Further notes on Aluminum Chloride
These are descriptions rather than measured values, so they are kept out of the table above and quoted here with the source that reported them.
Odor
Gives water a bitter astringent taste, with perception threshold at a concentration of 0.1 mg/L; odor perception threshold is 0.5 mg/L (calculating on the aluminum ion).
Source: HSDB
05 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Aluminum Chloride
Storage conditions
Always keep container closed, dry. Store in a noncombustible, nonsprinklered building away from all combustible material. Isolate from strong acids.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
... Will react with water or steam to produce heat, toxic or corrosive fumes of /hydrochloric acid/.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
ALUMINUM CHLORIDE behaves as an acidic salt. Self-reactive. After long storage in closed containers, explosions often occur upon opening [Chem. Abst. 41:6723d 1947]. Can cause ethylene(also other alkenes) to polymerize violently [J. Inst. Pet. 33:254 1947]. Causes ethylene oxide to rearrange and polymerize, liberating heat [J. Soc. Chem. Ind. 68:179 1949]. Can catalyze violent polymerization of allyl chloride [Ventrone 1971]. Addition to nitrobenzene containing about 5% phenol caused a violent explosion [Chem. Eng. News 31:4915 1953]. Mixtures with nitromethane may explode when organic matter is present [Chem. Eng. News 26:2257 1948].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Aluminum Chloride in the storage compatibility matrix →